Posted on 02/15/2005 10:46:39 AM PST by GianniV
The Veterans Affairs Department needs at least $4 billion more than President Bush has allotted or else veterans' health care and disability claims will suffer, Sen. Barack Obama warned Monday.
Obama (D-Ill.) criticized the president during a press conference in Chicago, calling him "bull-headed" and warning that Bush's proposed 2.7 percent increase for the VA doesn't consider an increased demand from returning Iraqi veterans.
"When you adjust for inflation, the president's budget has even less money for veterans than it had a year ago," said Obama, who serves on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. "We have a tendency to applaud our Armed Forces when they are overseas and in uniform and have a tendency to forget about them when they come home."
Bush's proposed VA budget of $71.3 billion raises VA medical care spending by $800 million but doubles prescription drug co-payments and calls for some veterans to pay a $250 annual fee for service. It also eliminates some state grants for veterans in nursing homes.
Obama also says it's time for the VA's inspector general to conclude a national investigation into disparities in disability pay that have shortchanged Illinois veterans.
"Recent reports by the Chicago Sun-Times have clearly shown the Illinois disability compensation system is broken," Obama said.
Pay probe
The VA inspector general's office launched its investigation in mid-December after a Sun-Times series revealed that Illinois' wounded veterans receive as much as $5,000 less than veterans in other states and Puerto Rico and that the pay disparity has gone on for seven decades.
The inspector general's office has not commented on its progress since it began the probe and has not returned phone calls to the newspaper in six weeks.
"VA Secretary [Jim] Nicholson said it was going to take a while to get it done. I don't want 'a while' stretching into six to nine months," Obama said. "My assumption is that it should take somewhere between six to eight weeks. My estimation is that we should have some answers soon."
Obama predicted that if Bush's budget for the VA remains unchanged, it will mean veterans will have to wait longer to have a disability claim decided. Currently nearly half a million veterans' compensation and pension claims are still waiting a decision, he said.
If Obama can show me his Honorable Discharge papers, I will listen to what he has to say...otherwise he should STFU. Another liberal playing on the backs of the military. Maggot.
The sincerity is overwhelming.... A Democrat supporting our veterans with nothing but the purest of motivations, I am certain.
Where have they all been for years and years on this issue? They were good at spreading disinformation about Bush and the vets during the campaign, but anyone with experience at the VA can tell you it's improved overall DRAMATICALLY since a republican became president.
Maybe Illinois' problems stem from corruption allowed by their dem politicians...
There is a Democrat primed and waiting to criticize everything GWB says or does.
You notice that Obama kept talking about "my timetable", like the US govt (Bush) is supposed to set his watch on Obama time?
Puhllllllleeeze, this guy is from Illinois and has obviously been watching Jesse Jackson too long---he thinks that when a minority speaks, everyone should bow to his/her wishes---
Also, he is talking about disparity in Illinois disablity money---is he trying to say that the VEt Admin discriminates against different STATES when they pass out checks?
If that is what he is saying then he is letting everyone know right off the bat that he isn't in Wash to legislate, he is there to be a "squeeky wheel" and that he intends to get the "grease"---
Our pride and joy ain't 100% black.
Hillary! on the Armed Services Committee, Obama coming out in defense of veterans' benefits. Hmmmmm.
You gotta admit, though, that Barrak Obama certainly is "well spoken". Yes, that young man is really "going places".
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
Interesting how, on the one hand, the Dims howl about deficits, then, every one of their complaints about this administration complains about it not spending enough money on different projects...
Flaming socialist punk.
What is Obama's track record on our military and our veterans? I KNOW our President's track record and it's Solid.
OldEagle, that demoflop is primed, waiting to be ole broadbeam's choice for VP, when she runs for our Whitehouse.. He's going to be her choice. Mark my words.
I too would like to see his DD214...which I doubt exists.
I saw some of Obama's speech at the DNC. It was really good. I think he was talking family values, and went on to say that "we worship an awesome God". And then he brought in the Democratic Party, and it all fell apart.
No problem, Obama, feel free to increase the VA spending. You just have to decrease the spending for something else. Any ideas?
Obama - Osama, what's the difference?
DD214? I bet he doesn't even know what it is.
So, this guy's the new, bright light of the Democratic Party, ay? Sounds like the rest of 'em to me.
Next!
Track record? He's a snot-nosed freshman Senator. How can he have a track record yet?
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